Electric switch



July 21,1936." I y H A DOUGLAS 2,047,950

K ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Jan. lss,` 1954- z sheets-sheet 2 /M/ENTOR HARRY A. Doz/GLAS UNlTE-ofs'srM-Es- PATENT oFFlcE n i i 2,041.95 L i "ff. i

iiLiiC'iitiC swi'rcli v` Hal"ry 'A-.jpouglasr Bronsom Mich. Applieatipifianiiaryfis;193i; serial No. '107,131

I (cl.2tn+es) 'i @Figure 9 is a similar view of the circuit contin- `Tnisinvention relatestennsr l rtric switches and more particularly ulng'membele-.j y 1 f. i t mechanism including a reciprcabl ctuatingwl The embodiment ofv this invention, as illustrat- Y '.iupper* end with a contact Acarrying closure 3 of 1t is an object of this invntioniq p1-Ovide' a Y yinsulating material mounted upon'thelower end r@sli'npliied and economical structure-which -will -to'secu re a metallic mounting plate 4 between f .':jbe positive in operation and which will ,withstand `the end closure andvbedy 0f the casing, whereby 107y the rough usage to' which a footoperatedv switch the casing I and plunger cap 't'y may be inserted 10 l f is subjected. It isa further object` to'provideV an thIOUgh anapeltule in the 001 board, 11017 Shown,

- ,electric switch of this type which is ofparticlar of` an automotive vehicle and secured thereto by ijadvantage for controlling the bright and tilt iilathe mounting plate 4, s0 that the plunger vcan 2 1 v ments of motor vehicle headlightg y, j may be readily depressed by the foot of the driver. g15 The advantages of such a switching mecha- `The upper D OIOH 0f the fasting' l, iS Contracted 15 nism when employed in connection with a main SQ fom) a: gulde 5 fOr a IeCiDIOCable plunger 6 Se- 1 :hand operated switch in the iighting'isystem of -aufedaxlallo th? top-0f theiplilnger can 2, as an' automobile, such as disclosed in this appli ShWQ- A C011 'Sprlng '7 Sulfroundlng the plunger n' l cants application executed. concurrently `heregulie 53nd plunger-'6;1S mterp0sed Wlthll the 20" with, serial No. 696,445, nled November 2,'1933y cap 2 `bfti'enthe undeslde gf the top and the 2o fin which the driver ofA the automotive vehicle exgandfng pomonpf, the guide 5 tflormuy y"having set his headlights' in the bright position Imalftam the 93p: nl lts ulpelmst 13081111011 With is able by a Slight .movement of his foon upon 4the depending extension 8 of the cap wall in ena-pproaehing a car traveling in the oppositedirecgagement-Wlththe'stop 9 Struck out from the ad' '-jacentiwallof thecasingl. y 25 2,5 non to dlm hls bnght hghts Wlthout mmovmfg" The contact carrying closure 3 of insulating y f'his hand from the steering wheel. l i y i fis made to the accompanying sheets of drawings j Y. y t. andhls secured thereto by providing four ngers illustrating an embodiment o f this inven ion, with lo depending from the lower Wan of the Casin-g 3G the understandtrtl tin; mlor getaeutrfhanges adapted"tofpass through segmental recesses II f f i l'eb? made W1 ou epm mg e scope' provided in the circumference of the disc 3 and i, 9 f f' then bentrover to engagethe exterior surface of In the dra'wmgsf' lthe closure disc 3, as vshown in Figure 4. The

ing therethrough. f

K kjfjflyaiemed July 271,'1936A 'I fk` L f j means adapted to be footoperatedto alternately i ed,'inc1udes a metalliccylindrical casing I mounty "5y continue and discontinue different cirA uits passing a reciprocable metallic plunger cap 2 upon-the 5,

, Figure 1 is a view inkk central vertical'section of mounting plate 4, is provided with a Circular opem 35 fa. preferred embodimentof this` invention, with ing I2 having segmental enlargements, receive f "aparts illustrated 11.1 elevatlm f f thebody of the depending fingers I0 and the wall jFigure 2 is a Similar vew'in Section teken 0n of 'the cyiindrical casing I intermediate the dethe line 2 2 of Figure 1, looking in thevdirection pending fingers I0 is provided with segmental opor thearrows with parts illustrated in elevation. plate engging members I3 struck out from the 40 LFigure 3 is a view in transverse section taken Y casing I at right angles thereto so that whenvthe fon the line 3--3 0f Figure 1, looking inthe dreclosure disc 3 is secured to the casing I, the plate "suon of the arrows' i* i 4 is clamped between the closure disc and seg- Figure 4 iS a bottom plan View 0f Figure, 1. mental extension I3 of the casing I. 145': g. "Figure 5 is a view similar 'to Figure 1, illustrat- The Switching mechanism together with its ac- 45 y ying more details in section and sh0wingthe`-mov tuator and operating means is all carried within y ysing yparts in the act of changing positionfrom the casing I above the contact carrying closure Figure 1. Y 'f f' j disc 3; An electric circuit continuing contact is i f Figure 6 is a viewiin transverse section taken axially mounted upon the contact carrier 3 which 50 -onj the line 6 6 of Figure 1, looking inthe direcalso mounts two oppositely disposed similar con- 50 tion of the arrows. Y i tactsequidistant from the axial contact. Each rvFigure 7 isa projected detail perspective view ycontact is preferably @instructed 0f metal With a ,foffthe circuit continuing actuatonparts. rectangular portion I4 having an opening I5 passf e ,Figure 8 is a detail' view in perspective of the ing therethrough and having a spring pressed den lfaactuator support. p tent'or ball I6 at the lower side thereof toform 55' a plug receiving member of a snap terminal electric circuit continuing connection to an electric conductor, as disclosed in this applicants prior copending application, Serial No. 565,127, led September 25, 1931. The upper portion of the rectangular body I4 of each contact is provided with an axial cylindrical extension in the form of a sleeve |1 adapted to pass through a circular opening I8 provided in the contact carrier, and secured thereto with the rectangular portion |4 in engagement with the exterior of the carrier by spinning the metal of the end of the sleeve about the interior of the carrier, as shown in Figure 5, which at the same time forms a contact for engagement, with a circuit continuing member or bridge.

In this embodiment of the invention, the axially mounted contact I9 is adapted to be connected with a battery or other source of electricity, not shown, and the contacts 20 and 2| on each side thereof are adapted to be connected to the' circuits to be alternately continued from the contact I9. To continue these circuits a generally U-shaped bracket of metal is provided having a flat base 22, spacing apart parallel vertical arms 23, with an axial opening for receiving the extension |1 of the battery contact I3 which secures the base against the interior surface of the contact carrier 3. To insure rigidity and maintain the position of the bracket, it is preferable to provide each arm adjacent the base with a radial extension 24 having a depending foot 25 adapted to b'e received in a depression or aperture 26 provided therefore in the contact carrier 3, as shown in Figures 3 and 8.

Each arm is provided with a central rectangular opening 21 having a reentrant angular bottom adjacent the base 22 to provide a bearing 28 for a metallic rectangular circuit continuing member or bridge 29 having similar central oppositely disposed ears 30 adapted to be received in the openings 21 in the arms and rest upon the bearing 28. The body of the bridge .23 at this point is transversely curved upwardly slightly above the plane of the main body to form a 'ridge or rib 3| and each end is offset to form a flat portion 32 at such an angle as to engage the flat surface of the contact 2| when oscillated about the bearing 28'and be separated from the contact 2n, as shown in Figure 5, and vice versa. The extremities of each portion 32 are' each continued to form fingers 33 bent back at an acute angle over the at surface 32, for a purpose hereinafter described.

The circuit continuing bridge 29 is caused to'.

operate about its bearings 28 and 30 to engage either contact 20 or 2| and maintain such engagement by an actuator, indicated generally by the numeral 34, Figure ,'1, mounted on a pivot 35 carried between the arms 23 adjacent their upper ends. The actuator preferably includes two correspondingly shaped metallic sections in the form-of a T provided with inturned flanges 36 about the openings provided for the reception of the pivot 35 at the juncture of the vertical and horizontal center lines of the depending tail 31 and the horizontal arms 38 and inturned flanges 39 across the top of the arms 38 and similar anges 40 along the bottom of each arm 38 and contiguous side of the tail 31, whichflanges are of such dimensions that when brought into engagement `with each other the outer surfaces of the parts 31 and 38 will be snugly received be-f tween the arms 23 and capable f oscillation about the pivot 35. The upper surface of the arms 33 are provided with similar angular surfaces 4| forming an obtuse angle with each other and extending downwardly from the apex 42 lying in the vertical central line of the portion 31 above the pivot 35 with each angular surface 4| termi- 5 .nating in an upwardly curved end 43 tangential thereto. An actuating detent 44 is mounted to slide between the spaced apart members 31 guided by the anges 40 thereon which detent is preferably in the form of a shell having a rounded 10 closed lower end or nose 45 and open at the other end to receive a coil spring 46 adapted to bear against the pivot apertured flanges 36 to exert an outward pressure upon the nose. This detent not only connects the two sections to os-y l5 cillate together, but also engages the circuit carrying bridge 23 to impart oscillation thereto. As shown in Figure 1, the actuator has been rotated about its pivot to cause the nose 45 of the detent to travel in engagement with the flat 20 surface to rotate the bridge 29 to continue the circuit through contact 28 and maintain the connection by the tension of the spring 46 holding the nose 45 inr engagement with the end of the4 inturned iinger 33 of the bridge. When the actuator is caused to rotate about its pivot in the opposite direction, the spring 46 is compressed until the nose 45 rides over the rib 3| of the bridge and as the nose passes over the center thereof the spring imparts a snap movement to the bridge to tilt it to engage the contact 2|, as shown in Figure 5.

The actuator is alternately thrown from one position to the other by an operating mechanism actuated by the depression of the plunger cap 2. 35 The plunger 6 secured to said cap is preferably square in cross-section and the restricted portion 5 of the casing within which the plunger reciprocates is preferably indented, as shown in Figure 6, to form guides 41 to prevent rotation of the plunger. The upper portion of the plunger which normally extends above the upper end of the restricted casing 5 when the cap is in the extended position is preferably reduced in crosssection to form a shoulder 48 and the metal of the casing at the end 49 is turned inwardly to engage the shoulder to limit the upward movement ofthe plunger. 'Ihe plunger is provided with an axial bore 50 terminating in the recessed portion adjacent the cap 2 and is also provided with a central transverse slot forming two spaced apart legs 5| depending from the shoulder 48. An operating member 52 of insulating material is mounted between the legs 5| upon a pivot 53 centrally located thereon. Said operating member is preferably of the same width as the plunger 6 and is provided with a transverse at upper end 54 adapted to be engaged by the bottom of a detent 55 likewise mounted between the legs 5| and having a guide pin 56 extending into the bore 50 surround- 60 ed by a coil spring 51 exerting pressure upon the detent to normally and resiliently maintain the operator 52 in axial alignment with the plunger. The operator is extended below the legs 5| of the plunger 6 and tapered to terminate in a semi- 65 circular end 58 adapted to clear the apex 42 of the actuator 34 when the, cap 2 is extended and when the cap 2 is depressed to engage and travel over the incline portion 4| thereunder until the end 58 engages the curved portion 33 of the 70 actuator and snaps the detent 44 thereof over the central rib 3| of the circuit continuing bridge 29, as shown in Figure 5. The upper corners of the operator 52 are chamfered to clear the sides of the casing 5 when swinging on the pivot 53 75 y operatork 52 into alignment with'the'plunger 6, so

that upon the next depression of the cap 2, the

operator y52 throws the actuator on vthe other sideof itscenter to bridge the other contact.

What I claim is: l 1; yApflunger operated electric switch including a cylindrical casing, a contact carrier disc of insulating material closing one end thereof the first contact, a circuit continuing bridge'mounted for oscillation upon said bracket to alternately engageone contact while disengaging the other at thefend of each oscillation, actuating means mounted for oscillation on said bracket above said bridge, said actuating means including a depending resilient member adapted to Wipe over theupper side of the bridge and maintain contact ytherewith during oscillation and including a portion having oppositely disposed sloping surfaces'on-fits upper side, means normally maintaining the plunger at the end of its travel most vdistant rfrom the contact carrier, an operating fingerofy insulating material pivotally carriedl by said plunger and normally depending axially therebelow terminating adjacent the upper surfaceof lsaid portion adapted upon reciprocation of the plunger to engage, travel over the adjacent sloping surfaces and oscillate said actuating means in one direction, the opposite ends ofy the oscillating bridge beingprovided with abutments tolimit the travel of the resilient member idepending yfrom the actuating means and being providedlwith a raised rib along its axis of oscillationwiped over by said resilientme'mber to snap the'gbridge to theend of its movement in that direction.

2. A plunger operated electric switch including a cylindrical casing, a contact carrier disc of rinsulating materiall closing one end thereof, the casingbeing reduced in diameter -for a substantial distance from the other end, a plunger mounted to be guided and reciprocated within said reduced portion of the casing, an electric contact arranged axially in thecontact carrying disc. ay circuit continuing bracket extending thereabovefand secured to said contact, a pair of equidistant oppositely disposed contacts arranged v in said casing; an actuator pivoted on said operin the contact carrying disc on each side oi.' the rstcontact, a circuit continuing bridge mounted for oscillation upon said bracket to alternately engage one contact while disengaging the other at the end of each oscillation, actuating means 5 mounted for oscillation on said bracket above said bridge, said actuating means including a depending resilient member adapted to wipe over the upper side of the bridge and maintain contact therewith during oscillation and including a portion having oppositely disposed sloping sur- I faces on its upper side, means normally maintaining the plunger at the end of its travel most distant from` the contact carrier, an operating linger of insulating material pivotally carried by said plunger and normally depending axially therebelow terminating adjacent the -upper surface of said portion adapted upon reciprocation of the plunger to engage, travelover the adjacent -sloping surfaces and oscillate said actuating means in one direction, the said bracket being of U shape connected to the contact through its base with the upperends of its opposite arms c perforated to receive a pivot pin for the actuating the adjacent flanges with the closed end in enagement with a coil spring interposed between said ilanges and the pivot flanges. l t

3. An electric switch, comprising: operating means including an oscillatable member movable bodily with said operating means; an oscillatable actuator, operable by said operating means; cooperating means, including an oscillatable member, coacting with said actuator to cause said actuator to oscillate with a snap movement; and means for mounting said actuator and each of said oscillatable members for oscillation abou separate axes. f

4. An electric switch, comprising: a casing; a reciprocating operator, mounted for movement tator; and said casing having va portion of -re duced cross-section, for cooperation, with said actuator on the side of said actuator opposite from the direction of movement of the free end of said actuator, to limit movement of said actuator about the pivot of said actuator in said direction.

HARRY A. DOUGLAS.

CERTIFICATE CE CORRECTION.

Paf-tent No. 2,047,950. July 21, 19:56.

HARRY A. DOUGLAS.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring Correction as follows: Page 3, second Column, strike out lines 38 to 4'? inclusive, comprising claim 5; and for the present claim number "4" read 3; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and.r sealed this 29th day of September, An D. 1936.

enry Van Arsdale Sea1) Y Acting Commissioner of Patents.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 2,047,950. July 2i, 195e.

HARRY A. DOUGLAS.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 3, second column, strike out lines 38 to 4'? inclusive, comprising Claim 3; and for the present claim number` "4" read 3; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 29th day of September, An D. 1936.

Henry Van Arsdale (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

